What did people in the Ancient world believe? So far most of the civilisations we have studied have all shared polytheistic beliefs....
Polytheism is the belief in and worship of many gods. Typically, these gods are distinguished by particular functions, and often take on human characteristics. This was particularly true in ancient Greece and Rome. In other polytheistic cultures such as ancient Egypt, gods took on the form and characteristics of objects found in nature, including trees, sacred herbs, cattle, animals and animal--human hybrids. The belief in multiple gods is probably the result of an earlier belief in vaguely defined spirits, demons and other supernatural forces. These belief systems are similar to animism and ancestor worship. However, in polytheism, these supernatural forces are personified and organized into a cosmic family. This "family" becomes the nucleus of a particular culture's belief system. The family of gods was used to explain natural phenomena and to establish a culture's role in the universe. Typically, the number of gods would expand as the culture's belief system developed, eventually resulting in a hierarchical system of deities. Over time, the lesser gods would diminish in stature or vanish altogether.
Polytheism - Ancient World Polytheism was wide spread in the ancient world. The Egyptians had a highly developed belief system that was based on multiple gods. These gods were the cornerstone of Egyptian culture and still fascinate us today. The ancient Greeks also had an intricate system of myths based on multiple deities. The Greek gods often took on human forms and personalities, and in many cases, directly interfered with human activities. When the Roman Empire conquered the Greeks, the Romans assimilated much of the Greek polytheistic culture. Over time, as Rome's influence spread, it absorbed other gods from the other cultures that it conquered. In addition to Egypt, Greece and Rome, polytheism was widespread in ancient Asian, African, European and Native American cultures.
How and why was China different?
Chinese religion was not an organized, unified system of beliefs and practices. It had no leadership, no headquarters, no founder, and no denominations. Instead, "Chinese religion" is a general term used to describe the complex interaction of different religious and philosophical traditions that have been especially influential in China.
Geography of China Summary How did the Geography of China influence the development of its philosophical and religious traditions?
Although other religious traditions have been influential in China, Chinese religion is primarily composed of four main traditions: Chinese folk religion, Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism. The religious outlook of most Chinese people consists of some combination of beliefs and practices from these four traditions. It is very rare for only one to be practiced to the exclusion of the others.
The world's largest democracy and a rising economic giant, India is now as well known across the globe for its mastery of computer technology as it is for its many-armed gods and its famous spiritual traditions. But India is also the world's most ancient surviving civilization, with unbroken continuity back into prehistory. Like other great civilizations—Greece or Egypt, for example—over the millennia it has enjoyed not just one but several brilliant golden ages in art and culture. Its great thinkers and religious leaders have permanently changed the face of the globe.
India's history is a ten thousand year epic but for over two millennia, India has been at the center of world history. It has seen successive invasions from Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and the British, all of whom left their mark but all of whom succumbed, in the end, to India herself. For all that time India has been famous for its spiritual traditions; it gave birth to two world religions, one of which—Buddhism—had a profound impact on all of East Asia, China, Japan and Korea, and in modern times has found root even in the US and Europe. The subcontinent is home to one of the world's greatest—and least understood—artistic traditions and to an extraordinary spectrum of music, dance and literature. India was also, and still is, a great center for technology and science, inventing—for example—the decimal system with zero, which is the basis of all modern science, mathematics and economics. India gave birth to some of the most remarkable characters in world history, including the Buddha, the Moghul emperor Akbar the Great, not to mention the likes of Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi. To learn more about India visit the PBS page that accompanies Michael Wood's fantastic series The Story of India. Watch some of the series here.
Click on the banner for religionfacts.com! Task 1: Using the documents and links below complete your worksheet about World religions and belief systems. Your aim is to discover the basic facts about these philosophies so that we can go on to compare them.
Using the following handouts and maps create a triple venn diagram to identify major similarities and differences between Judaism, Islam & Christianity. There are many shared beliefs and origins!
So far most of the civilisations we have studied have all shared polytheistic beliefs....
Polytheism is the belief in and worship of many gods. Typically, these gods are distinguished by particular functions, and often take on human characteristics. This was particularly true in ancient Greece and Rome. In other polytheistic cultures such as ancient Egypt, gods took on the form and characteristics of objects found in nature, including trees, sacred herbs, cattle, animals and animal--human hybrids.
The belief in multiple gods is probably the result of an earlier belief in vaguely defined spirits, demons and other supernatural forces. These belief systems are similar to animism and ancestor worship. However, in polytheism, these supernatural forces are personified and organized into a cosmic family. This "family" becomes the nucleus of a particular culture's belief system. The family of gods was used to explain natural phenomena and to establish a culture's role in the universe. Typically, the number of gods would expand as the culture's belief system developed, eventually resulting in a hierarchical system of deities. Over time, the lesser gods would diminish in stature or vanish altogether.
Polytheism was wide spread in the ancient world. The Egyptians had a highly developed belief system that was based on multiple gods. These gods were the cornerstone of Egyptian culture and still fascinate us today. The ancient Greeks also had an intricate system of myths based on multiple deities. The Greek gods often took on human forms and personalities, and in many cases, directly interfered with human activities. When the Roman Empire conquered the Greeks, the Romans assimilated much of the Greek polytheistic culture. Over time, as Rome's influence spread, it absorbed other gods from the other cultures that it conquered. In addition to Egypt, Greece and Rome, polytheism was widespread in ancient Asian, African, European and Native American cultures.
How and why was China different?
Chinese religion was not an organized, unified system of beliefs and practices. It had no leadership, no headquarters, no founder, and no denominations. Instead, "Chinese religion" is a general term used to describe the complex interaction of different religious and philosophical traditions that have been especially influential in China.
Geography of China Summary How did the Geography of China influence the development of its philosophical and religious traditions?
Although other religious traditions have been influential in China, Chinese religion is primarily composed of four main traditions: Chinese folk religion, Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism. The religious outlook of most Chinese people consists of some combination of beliefs and practices from these four traditions. It is very rare for only one to be practiced to the exclusion of the others.
Confucianism Overview
Confucian Wisdom Quotes from the Great Master
Chinese Philosophies Summary (Legalism, Confucianism & Daoism)
Confucianism was adopted as the orthodox state philosophy during the Han dynasty, how significant were these ideas and this period?
The Qin & the Han Dynasties Summary Legacy of Ancient China
Legacy of Ancient China Summary Legacy of Ancient China
Blockbuster Game: Chinese philosophy & Buddhism Review Game
The Story of India
The world's largest democracy and a rising economic giant, India is now as well known across the globe for its mastery of computer technology as it is for its many-armed gods and its famous spiritual traditions. But India is also the world's most ancient surviving civilization, with unbroken continuity back into prehistory. Like other great civilizations—Greece or Egypt, for example—over the millennia it has enjoyed not just one but several brilliant golden ages in art and culture. Its great thinkers and religious leaders have permanently changed the face of the globe.
India's history is a ten thousand year epic but for over two millennia, India has been at the center of world history. It has seen successive invasions from Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and the British, all of whom left their mark but all of whom succumbed, in the end, to India herself. For all that time India has been famous for its spiritual traditions; it gave birth to two world religions, one of which—Buddhism—had a profound impact on all of East Asia, China, Japan and Korea, and in modern times has found root even in the US and Europe. The subcontinent is home to one of the world's greatest—and least understood—artistic traditions and to an extraordinary spectrum of music, dance and literature. India was also, and still is, a great center for technology and science, inventing—for example—the decimal system with zero, which is the basis of all modern science, mathematics and economics. India gave birth to some of the most remarkable characters in world history, including the Buddha, the Moghul emperor Akbar the Great, not to mention the likes of Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi. To learn more about India visit the PBS page that accompanies Michael Wood's fantastic series The Story of India. Watch some of the series here.
Part 1: The Beginnings
Part 2: The Power of Ideas
World Religions: A Comparison
Click on the banner for religionfacts.com!
Task 1: Using the documents and links below complete your worksheet about World religions and belief systems. Your aim is to discover the basic facts about these philosophies so that we can go on to compare them.
BIG Chart of facts about all world religions
Woodlands Site for World Religions
Using the following handouts and maps create a triple venn diagram to identify major similarities and differences between Judaism, Islam & Christianity. There are many shared beliefs and origins!
Brief summary of World Religious Views on War & Peace
Maps showing early spread of Judaism, Christianity and Islam